I've been cleaning and organizing the swamp that was once my garage. A**** other things I have laying around (MANY other things) are a matched pair of Toyota 3TC engines. For those unfamiliar, these are a push rod four cylinder iron block, aluminum head, hemi engine. They are outrageously cool looking little beasts. I moved them against one wall to get them out from under foot, and lined then up in tandem, and pushed them close together. Never have I been so sad that we cannot run the slightly newer Japanese engines! Two of these in a row would just be kick *** in a Hambster! It's just about all I can do to refrain from creating a useless piece of garage art....couldn't use it for anything, but wow, it would look SO cool! Oh, I'm gonna have good dreams tonight.....
I'd have to go back through the NHRA rules, but I'm pretty sure I saw somewhere that twin/multi engine cars are no longer allowed. Sigh....
I saw the Sissel twin 6 dragster run at a Goodguys meet not that many years ago. I'd bet you can run Test and Tune and brackets most anywhere with twin Toyotas. You could check with ANRA leadership about running in that series. I'd love to see it!
The Sissel twin runs regularly at Famoso, as does Flathead Jack's double flattie. If NHRA has an exclusion perhaps it's for top fuelers & funnies? I can understand (though not agree) why neither of these would be allowed today ........ ....... or even this ....... .... but a properly built (by today's rules of course) double shouldn't be a problem. Gotcha thinkin'?
Okay...NHRA rulebook section 4A Super Pr, Pro, Sportsman E.T. Handicap Racing 7.50 seconds and slower. Requirements and Specifications. Engine:1 "One internal combustion automotive-type, motorcycle, or snowmobile engine permited." What a bunch of unimaginative Hose Bags.....
Gotta love the ch***is and "cage" on that car! What Old6 said...the twin 6 rail and twin flathead run so there must be a way...perhaps exhibition cl***? The other possibility would be one hell of a neat street roadster.
Well, as I understand it, these specialty promotions, such as the GoodGuys or ANRA, are usually run at NHRA sanctioned tracks, but the actual EVENT isn't ***ociated with the NHRA. Our local track operators a too much control freaks to allow anything like that.There is an outlaw 1/8 mile track about 125 miles from here, and the promotor there always just smiles and says "Bring it on over". I suppose there's always SOMEWHERE to run whatever you might have. I don't really need a street roadster, though....I already have an Olds W-31 powered Morris Minor Convertible!
Oh, and by the way, NHRA won't let me race that Morris either! The wheelbase is too short....You know, I didn't intend to start any good old fashioned NHRA bashing here....BUT (lol) I guess where I begin to experience that burning sensation on my backside, is these guys seem to do pretty much nothing to curb escalating costs in the Pro ranks, yet when the low buck guys try to simply go back to their roots for some good old fashioned cheap fun, Well there the safety Nazi's are...telling us how to build our cars, what our roll cages must look like, how many engines we must have, etc. AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!! Here I go again! I gotta go enjoy an adult beverage and unwind.....I can't go back out in the garage just yet. I'll see that pair of Toyota engines....
That's the reason we tend to refer to them as the N(o)H(ot)R(ods)A(llowed) these days. They have no concept of "home built" cars and feel that any "Open Wheel" car needs to be built to AA/FA, TOP FUEL or FUNNY CAR specs...doesn't matter if it runs 14 seconds at 90 mph or 4.5 seconds at 300 mph. I have no problem with the idea of building a "safe car"...just a problem with their concept compared with "common sense".
Throw a blanket over one engine. They'll never know... Stretch the Morris out to 90", like my Anglia and you can run it. 'Course you'll need umpty hump other safety items.
As I get older, I guess I'm just turning into a reall ****ole. Every time I see someone making these silly decisions, the "hippy" in me starts to re emerge. If it's the establishment...well, I'm anti. I think this is the EXACT reason that these gr*** roots airport racing events are on the come back. The latest issue of Hot Rod has a great article on the Eagle Field and Lodi events. I say every low buck ground level hot rodder should not only support these events, but aid in their promotion, and encourage or organize new events. In the end, it may be the only way we will be able to play on our own terms. It makes me want to research every reason why we can't run our old style technology, then incorporate all those features in one car! The ultimate statement!
Don't know what the wheelbase is, but this car runs the ANRA meets. You could check their rules and see. Butch runs a nice series. http://www.anra.com/
Yeah the Morris wheelbase is 86 inches, and the front axle of that one looks to be set just about 4 inches forward of center. My car is a street car, sits low in front, and has IFS, so I'm NOT gonna stretch it. I just thought it would be a blast to build a bolt in cage, and run it a couple times a year. Ahh, I'll take it to the outlaw track at Gooding if I get the itch....it's only about 125 miles from here! Hey, I got an idea! If I put those two Toyota's side by side with the intakes turned inward, maybe those dimwits in tech will think it's a Hemi V-8 and leave me alone!
The Jalopy Journal
